Sham Stakes
This classic g.III rated west coast tune up for the Santa Anita Derby goes off this Saturday on Santa Anita's still somewhat suspect synthetic track. Not suspect anymore because of its complete inability to drain (a problem which looks to have been mostly cleared up), but because you really can't compare horses running on polytrack with those running on more traditional dirt surfaces. Although everyone's a little confused about what synthetics are actually like for the horses (good/bad, more turf like/dirt like, speed favoring/closer favoring), everyone seems to be in agreement that running on real dirt is somehow significantly different. So, even if some horse makes a name for himself this spring in California, even if some colt, like Sham himself, proves themselves the master of their western domain, that winner will come into Louisville with a huge question mark hovering over his head.
El Gato Malo (El Corredor-One Bad Cat, by Mountain Cat) tore up the track in the one mile San Rafael (g.III) last month, winning with a 6 1/4 length margin in a time of 1:33 and 1/5. His three victories thus far give him a combined winning margin of 16 lengths. Not up to Fierce Wind's antics, but still impressive. He shows no sign of slowing down for the addition of an extra 1/8th of a mile in this contest.
Colonel John (Tiznow) is hot property in Derby picks right now after his second place finish to Into Mischief in the Cash Call Futurity in late December. I believe I've already expressed my views on the Cash Call and its field, so I'll let you draw your conclusions from that. Reflect Times, a Japanese bred colt by French Deputy (out of Franca, by Seeking the Gold), was third in the Robert B. Lewis, and I liked Crown of Thorn's performace as the winner in that race enough to give this guy a second look. I also have an inkling his pedigree might do well on the synthetic track. Victory Pete (Five Star Day) was third last in the California Derby, losing by only a length to the undefeated Yankee Bravo (who I happen to think is a pretty good horse).
My two would be favorites for this race, Crown of Thorns and Coast Guard, were both scratched.
1. El Gato Malo
2. Victory Pete
3. Reflect Times
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes
Also runnning on synthetic surface, though curiously not in California, is this as yet ungraded 1 1/16 mile prep for the Lane's End Shakes (g.II). Not only do I not stable any of the runners, I haven't even heard of any of them before in my life (which just goes to show how green I really am). It seems a lot of them might be Turfway Park specialists, as 4 of them raced previously in the WEBN Stakes earlier this month. That race was won by Big Glen (Cactus Ridge) who is the presumptive favorite here. However, one should not overlook the second placed horse in that race, Your Round (Distorted Humor), who could only manage 8th in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf, but has done much better after a switch to dirt. Synthetics should do just fine for him. Also, I like his pedigree and his recent close losses have all come at the expense of wide trips. Third in the WEBN was Mr. Harry (Flatter), who looks to be snuck up on as a front runner on polytrack. Sixth was Dixie Decision...who doesn't seem to bear much mention here.
Briarwood Circle (Smart Strike-Fleet Road, by Magisterial) is something more of an unknown. He also started on turf, and in Canada. He was a close second in his last start, the Display Stakes last November, and will be making his three year old debut here. Why include him? Well, his pedigree mostly. What can I say, Smart Strike has made an impression on me. And just to throw a wrench into everything, there's a filly in the field. God, I love a filly who races the boys. Absolutely Cindy (Arch) was 6th last in the Silverbulletday Stakes (g.III), won by Indian Blessing, but is otherwise fairly consistent, with a record of 9-2-2-3.
1. Your Round
2. Briarwood Circle
3. Big Glen
Santa Anita Handicap
Now, the Big Cap is this week's big deal. With a 14 horse field full of class, the possibilities for bettors are nigh endless. I could write a whole post about this one race, but I won't....cause I'm lazy.
Awesome Gem (Awesome Again), the presumptive favorite, was third behind Curlin and Hard Spun in the Breeder's Cup Classic (g.I), was third in the San Antonio Hanicap (g.II) in early February, and recently posted a bullet work at Hollywood Park. Strong stuff, but I wonder at a horse who was third last out over the same track being a presumptive favorite. Awesome Gem's trainer, Craig Dollase, also has the presumptive 2nd choice in the race, Monterey Jazz (Thunderello). Monterey Jazz lead wire-to-wire in the 1 1/8 mile Strub Stakes (g.II) earlier this February, which is a somewhat strange tactic for a horse that's now 3 for 3 over two turns. Will the additional distance hamper him this time around? Maybe not, but the stampede of classy closers behind him sure might!
Finishing ahead of Awesome Gem in the San Antonio, and as a close closing second to Well Armed after having a somewhat troubled trip, was Heatseeker (Giant's Causeway). Prior to that, he won the Native Diver Handicap (g.III) at Hollywood Park. He recently breezed a mile in an easy 1:00. Do I need to tell you more?
Student Council (Kingmambo-Class Kris, by Kris S., and do I even need to point out the lovely grass pedigree? Gosh, why am I such a breeding snob?) also beat Awesome Gem, but that was waaaay last year in the Pacific Classic. Coming off a disappointing 8th in the Japan Dirt Cup, Student Council (who I was something of a fan of last year) was only able to get a 5th in the San Antonio, behind Awesome Gem, Heatseeker and Big Booster (another horse in the Big Cap, who I'm dismissing out of hand...sorry).
Go Between (Point Given), was a recent impressive Winner of the Sunshine Millions Classic over the same distance, and would be an excellent choice. But this confirmed late closer, though he's shown excellent ability to go wide on the turns and still finish strong, will likely have 13 horses ahead of him to contend with. That tends to make for a not insignificant wall. Meanwhile, Celtic Dreamin (Game Plan), who was outrun by Go Between in the stretch of the Sunshine Millions has hooked up again with his replacement rider from that day, Alex Solis. This horse is 5-4-0 in 9 lifetime starts. Have you heard me mention before how much a love a consistent horse? It bears repeating; and at 20-1 this boy would round out anyone's trifecta perfectly.
Tiago (Pleasant Tap) has never been one of my heroes (though my co-worker liked him a lot last year when he was big). He was third in the San Fernando Stakes (g.II) and second in the Strub Stakes (g.II) over the same track already this year. Certainly not inconsistent, and any other day I'd use him to pad my trifecta, but not with this field.
Champs Elysees (Danehill-Hasili) is a horse I've always liked. He's got a killer female family with grass written all over it and he just came off a win in the San Marcos Stakes (g.IIT). One might wonder why he's being tried on dirt. Oh sure, polytrack is supposed to be very "turf-like", but I question why they don't keep him where they know he can perform. Trainer Bobby Frankel's flippant answer leaves something to be desired. Also coming off the turf is Medici Code, who was third last in the San Gabriel Handicap (g. IIT) in December. He's won before on synthetics in England and has trained well here, but I think he just has too many hurdles to get over in this one.
Great Hunter, though one of my Derby favorites last year, has failed to do anything impressive since. Seminole Native was third in the Sunshine Millions (behind Go Between and Celtic Dreamin...there is such a tangle of horses in the west coast older male division it's crazy), but tiring after that mile and an eighth distance doesn't bode well for this weekend's mile and a quarter.
I could go on....
1. Heatseeker
2. Celtic Dreamin
3. Monterey Jazz
And furthermore...
I'm not going to spend the time or energy profiling the other races of this week, but let's just say I like Bsharpsonata in the Davona Dale (g.II). Though I think War Monger is the best choice in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (g.IT), I'd put money on Out of Control (who looks to pay significantly better). And for yet more older horses on the dirt, I like Sir Whimsey in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (g.II).
In other news...
- Curlin surprised pretty much no one when he cruised to an easy 2 1/4 legnth finish under the lights of Nad al Sheba in the Jaguar Cup. A little rank early in the race (hey, wouldn't you be after nearly a 4 month layoff), jockey Robby Albarado settled him just behind the front runner Familiar Territory, and left enough run in the colt to draw away from the crowd (with loose reins) in the stretch. Not quite as yawn-worthy as War Pass' recent paid workout (did I mention Curlin carried 132 pounds and spotted the next horse 15?), but still an easy win. And the racing world marks March 29th on its calendars as the date for Curlin's next expected win.- Scratched from the Sham Stakes was Coast Guard (Stormy Atlantic), who previously finished 2nd behind Crown of Thorns in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (g.II) at the beginning of February. The colt apparently had some heat in his ankle after a workout and his connections decided to hold off until next week's El Camino Real Derby (g.III). Why is this news? Because the number 1 and 2 horse of the Robert B. Lewis have now been sidetracked because of injuries. This race was run just before the improvements to fix up Santa Anita's track were implemented. I'm sorry, it's just suspicious. So synthetic tracks are supposed to be better for the horses, right?
- Everybody seems to have an opinion about the recent decision to move all the filly and mare races on the Breeder's Cup program to the Friday card, and to refer to the Breeder's Cup Distaff the "Ladies Classic". First allow me to say I am totally against moving all the girl's races to Friday, only because I was totally against putting any of the Breeder's Cup races on a Friday in the first place. Hello, some of us work. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that most of us work. And Friday is a work day. You want to add races and put them on Sunday, making a weekend of the Breeder's Cup? More power to you. I'd love a whole weekend's worth of camping out on the couch with muchies while the world's greatest thoroughbreds trot past on my flat screen tv. But as it is I have to rely on TiVo for the Friday races, and I was only comforted last year by the fact that the Friday races were, in general, the "lesser" contests. Now, you're going to put the Distaff, there? One of the most important races in this country? And how, pray tell, other than abstaining completely from internet news the entire day am I to remain unspoiled as to the outcome until I can make it home and watch the replays? I'm still pissed about finding out about Roses in May winning the Dubai World Cup from a CNN ticker before the race could even be shown on US tv (seriously, who would have thought CNN would care about this sort of thing?).
That being said, I don't find anything particularly insulting about changing the name (although I think the "Filly and Mare Classic" would be a better name). I don't personally consider "Ladies" to be an offensive term. And though I suppose I could understand how others might have a problem with it, I question whether they know the true meaning of the word "distaff". I happen to know it's not just a funny name for a mare's race only because I'm something of a history buff and, personally, I do think it's an offensive term:
Distaff –noun
1. a staff with a cleft end for holding wool, flax, etc., from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
2. a similar attachment on a spinning wheel.
3. Archaic.
a. a woman or women collectively.
b.woman's work.
–adjective
4. Sometimes Offensive. noting, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for a woman; female.
So really, I'm not too bothered by the name change.
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